Small 6V6 recording amp

**VitalSigns** · 02-18-2012, 12:13 PM

Following my previous thread on 6V6 amps, which was really useful to me in deciding what not to go for - even if that wasn't what I originally intended - I wondered if anyone can recommend a small 6V6 amp for recording. For re-amping or studio recording with headphones, I wouldn't need reverb or an effects loop. I found this useful list: Low wattage guitar amplifiers, amps 1, 2,3, 5, 6, 7 , 10 watts. I see 8 well known (to me)makers in this list - Ampeg, Egnater, Fender, Ibanez, Matamp, Torres and Traynor, tho' I'm not sure if they're all still available. Any ideas appreciated.
Jamie

**ruiner54** · 02-18-2012, 12:34 PM

Have you ever heard of "Big White Monkey the Chimp"? The name caught me eye but so did the looks. It has the look of a boutique jazz. Has fantastic reviews on Harmony Central.

I know this is probably not what you are looking for, but I just bought the Cakewalk V-20 Studio which is a minimal recording interface for guitar. It eliminates the major latency issues that come with PC recording. If you are looking to mic the amp rather than go direct then the rest of this message might be wasting your time :P

Anyway, it comes with a standalone BOSS (COSM) amp simulator and bunch of effects. Despite sharing the COSM name with the Cube (which I have), I find the amp sims on it are FAR superior to those on the cube. It has a JC-120 sim and a Blackface that both sound a lot like the real thing.

I like them so much that I often run the output of the unit through an amp. Oh yeah, it also has an effect that will simulate sinlgle coils from a humbucker guitar and vice-versa. I use it with my tele all the time and was surprised that it actually sounded good

**bborzell** · 02-18-2012, 12:48 PM

This is a new Ibanez 5 watt, 6V6 that is on my radar screen. At $249, one could probably do a lot worse.

Ibanez.com | Electronics, Tuners, Pedals, Accessories | TSA5

**VitalSigns** · 02-18-2012, 03:53 PM

Thanks chaps. I think I'll stick to the miking the amp, but it's always worth trying a demo. I need at least a 12" speaker (I don't know why..) but otherwise, head or combo would be OK. Wish I wasn't so old school..

**VitalSigns** · 02-19-2012, 08:14 AM

I had a look at some of the small 6V6 amps listed in that link. For the money, I thought the Fender Superchamp X2 HD and the Ibanez Tubescreamer TSA-15H looked interesting. They have effects or loop, so you could use them for rehearsal and non-serious small gigs as well as recording. I could even get over the name and finish of the Ibanez, if it sounded good.

**Jabberwocky** · 02-19-2012, 11:08 AM

VHT Special 6 with a Celestion G10 Gold.

**VitalSigns** · 02-19-2012, 11:38 AM

VHT Special 6 with a Celestion G10 Gold.

Thanks - a groovy little amp and not too dear. It's on my list to check out.

**VitalSigns** · 03-13-2012, 06:57 AM

Just to tidy up this thread - in the end I bought an Ibanez TSA15H Tubescreamer head + cab. It sounded good in the shop, and the price was amazing - 350 quid for the two! The first thing I did was to take out the Celestion speaker and replace it with an EV. A great sounding little amp - shame about the colour - I think I'm going to have to get some black vinyl dye..
Jamie

**ChrisDowning** · 03-13-2012, 08:28 AM

If you are handy at DIY the vinyl change with csome new black (or any colour you can find - there's lots) is really quite easy - especially as the corner bits go under the chrome or plastic corner covers. Don't paint it; it will always bug you that it looks crap. Even your local handyman could do this job if you get hime the tolex if you don't feel up to doing this yourself.

**VitalSigns** · 03-13-2012, 12:37 PM

Thanks Chris. Ha - well I was thinking of spraying it with Vinyl paint like they sell at the Auto shops. The recovering option - I know I'd make an even bigger bodge of that, around the corners and where it tucks 'round. I could ask an amp maker for a quote I guess. I'm not amazingly fussy about appearance - see my car, er, see me! I just don't like white vinyl - makes me think of Elvis at Las Vegas.. I suspect the quote will be more than the £40 I'd want to pay tho'.
Jamie

**bborzell** · 03-13-2012, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by VitalSigns

Thanks Chris. Ha - well I was thinking of spraying it with Vinyl paint like they sell at the Auto shops. The recovering option - I know I'd make an even bigger bodge of that, around the corners and where it tucks 'round. I could ask an amp maker for a quote I guess. I'm not amazingly fussy about appearance - see my car, er, see me! I just don't like white vinyl - makes me think of Elvis at Las Vegas.. I suspect the quote will be more than the £40 I'd want to pay tho'.
Jamie

VHT makes a vinyl dye that they distinguish from paint in that their product is said to seep into the material rather than simply covering it. Here is a link that describes the product.
VHT Penetrating Vinyl Dye - SummitRacing.com

Glad to see that the Ibanez sounded well enough for you to buy one. I am still considering the 5 watter as I already have a Princeton RE to cover the range of the Ibanez TSA-15.

**VitalSigns** · 03-13-2012, 01:50 PM

VHT makes a vinyl dye that they distinguish from paint in that their product is said to seep into the material rather than simply covering it.

Thanks. I see that Halfords do their own version of that, tho' the review I read suggested it may only cover it like paint. I think I'd rather get something from a shop, rather than the internet, as I know I'll get to the end of the can and wish I'd ordered more. Today, I took the remains of my H&K combo to the dump, and was pleased to find it's cover fitted the Ibanez cab. I'll get a cover for the head too, so maybe there won't be many chips off the repaint.

**Tricone** · 03-16-2012, 11:45 AM

I have a very nice little combo amp made by Emery Sound. It's called the MicroSpotlight, and is about 1-2 watts. The power and preamp tubes are interchangeable, but will take a 6V6. Check them out. Highly recommended!

Emery Sound Vintage style all tube guitar amps

**Gillman Royce** · 03-30-2012, 01:59 PM

I really like my vintage Marshall Studio 15 - very versatile, especially with NOS glass ( 2x6v6;2x12ax7)built in attenuator and MV. When I want Fender tones, I roll off the mids and plug in a Weber 12A150 in an open back pine box. No corners were cut when they designed/ built these ( '85-'92), unlike a number of 15 & under watters I see/hear today. Many people forget that you need a certain minimum of watts to push enough air through a 12".

**ESCC** · 03-30-2012, 02:18 PM

Blackstar HT-5 Combo with Celestion 10". Has a speaker emulated out for recording that is very, very good. I've been playing through mine for a year now and couldn't be more pleased. If something happened to it, I'd replace it in a heartbeat.

**VitalSigns** · 03-30-2012, 07:12 PM

I'm sure they're both great amps. I tried the Blackstar HT-15 head and I liked it. There was a second hand one going in a shop with the two cab rig for the price of the head - I missed it by 1/2 hour. I read good things about the Marshall studio, but they don't make them any more. I tried various small 6V6 amps, but I like the Ibanez 15W Tubescreamer head. It has the classic 6V6 warm clean, and you'd have to use a pedal to get a smooth overdrive, and it does that, plus has a 6dB boost on each channel.
Clincher was how cheap it is - I've decided to get another head and cab to do stereo/more clean headroom. I also decided I could live with the white vinyl - until the warranty runs out!